Stem Cell Lobbying Coalition Formed

Applied Genetics News,  April, 2001  

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The new coalition-the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR)-will be devoted to ensuring that federal funds are available for embryonic stem (ES) cell research and that the current federal guidelines overseeing the research are supported.

Human ES cells were first isolated in 1998. Scientists and physicians believe these cells could be critical to curing such devastating diseases and conditions as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, ALS, and many others.

Founding members of the coalition include American Society for Cell Biology, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Parkinson's Action Network, Harvard University, University of Wisconsin, Washington University in St. Louis, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. The coalition expects to expand in the near future to include dozens of universities and organizations.

The principal goal of CAMR is to ensure that current federal policy regarding funding for stem cell research is retained. The Bush administration is conducting a review of the current policy to determine whether it will be retained or not. Completion of this review is expected in midsummer.

The coalition has retained Vicki Hart, a consultant in Washington, DC, who works with former GOP presidential candidate and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole, to assist in its advocacy efforts.

The coalition will also rely on the grassroots efforts of its member organizations to ensure that the Administration and Congress are aware that a majority of Americans support federal funding of stem cell research. A national public opinion poll conducted in January found that 65% of Americans support the research. Unfortunately, many of Bush's core conservative supporters do not.

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